Land and Resources: It is located in the central part of the Oka-Don Plain and the western part of the Volga Uplands and borders on Penza, Saratov, Ryazan, Lipetsk, and Voronezh regions. The region is located within the steppe and forest steppe zones. Climate: It has a temperate continental climate that becomes increasingly continental from northwest to southeast. Prevailing winds are from the south, southwest, and to some extent from the northwest. The average summer temperature is +22°C, and the average winter temperature is -11.5°C. Droughts occur one year in every three; therefore, the region belongs to the high-risk agricultural zone.Transportation: Tambov is an important railway and highway junction. In Donskoye there is a local airport. Public transport in Tambov consists of trolleybuses, buses and marshrutkas.

Sightseeing:The name "Tambov" originates from a Moksha language word meaning wetland. It was founded by the decree of tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich on April 17, 1636 (old style). Originally built as a border fortress against Crimean Tatars Tambov soon declined in importance as military outpost of Muscovy and became an administrative and trade center of largely rural Russian Empire region. The Tambov Art Gallery houses a vast collection of canvases by Russian and West-European artists. Russia`s oldest drama theater is located in Tambov, a museum of local lore and other cultural institutions.Tambov is one of Russia`s main cultural and intellectual centers with a rich and interesting history. It was awarded the status of historic city in 1989. Architecturally, Tambov combines modern buildings and old buildings dating from the 18th and 19th century, which have been restored after many years of work and are now the city`s pride and adornment. City authorities attach great importance to preserving cultural, historical, and architectural monuments; for example, the city administration has a multi-year program for preserving monuments of the past.One of the city`s main points of interest is Transfiguration (Spaso-Preobrazhensky) Cathedral, built in 1694 in the likeness of Assumption (Uspensky) Church in the Ryazan Kremlin and reopened for attendance in 1993. Tregulyaevsky Predtechensky and Kazansky monasteries were built in 1685; and Ascension (Voznesensky) Convent, in 1690. Tambov`s development as a spiritual center continued throughout the 18th century, and a large number of churches, monasteries, and other religious institutions were built here. Protection (Pokrovskaya) Church, built during this period, is one of the most-visited churches in Tambov. The church houses an icon of Our Lady of Tambov, which draws Christians from all over Russia. Another of Tambov`s unique historical monuments that is well worth visiting is Kazanskaya Church, built in the late 18th century in the likeness of Uspensky Church of Sarovsky Monastery and located in the center of the old part of the city. Voznesenskaya Church and Kazansky Monastery School were built in the same period, and a seminary opened. The famous Russian poet Gavriil Derzhavin, who was governor of Tambov Province at the time, contributed to its opening. There were many positive changes during his four years as governor. There was great emphasis on improving the city and expanding education. In that same short period, a public school was opened, classes in grammar, arithmetic, dancing, and other subjects began, a provincial paper began publishing, and a printing press opened. Construction began on a theater, which had started with performances in Gavrila Romanovich`s house.Three professional theaters, a Regional Philharmonic, and more than 700 cultural and entertainment facilities operate in Tambov Region today. The Regional Drama Theater is Tambov`s pride. Famous actors such as N.Kh. Rybakov, N.K. Miloslavsky, and P.N. Orlenev are associated with it, and other renowned artists such as Fedor Chaliapin, Maya Plisetskaya, and Dmitry Shostakovich have performed on its stage. In addition to professional theaters, there are theater studios for young people and musical groups.The names of many famous Russians are associated with Tambov territory, for example, Sergei Rachmaninov, whose name is borne by the Tambov Music School, poet Gavriil Derzhavin, who was once governor of Tambov Province, Evgeny Baratynsky, Aleksei Zhemchuzhnikov, and many others. Materials on them are kept in the local history museum. One of the country`s first museums of the history of medicine has operated in Tambov for many years. The drama theater, regional philharmonic, and art gallery are very popular with residents and visitors alike. Modern-day Tambov is a beautiful clean city where former mansions of the nobility, old churches, and modern buildings stand side by side.The territory`s cultural and historical heritage is preserved in 12 regional museums, which have a total fund of 167 000 items. The best known museum of the Tambov Regional Local History Museum, which has a splendid fund of ethnographic and artistic materials, rare books from the 17th-19th centuries, unique collections of porcelain, weapons, and Russian medals, and information on outstanding people whose life and works were associated with Tambov Region. The G.V. Chicherin museum house and one the few museums of the history of medicine in the country are also of great interest.

Street of Tambov

the Bridge through the river Tsna

Municipal duma

Spaso-Preobrajensky cathedral

Railway station

the Monument to Zoya Kosmodemjanskaya

Regional drama theatre

Museum of local lore

Sources:Encarta World Atlashttp://www.commersant.com/t-82/r_5/n_426/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://russia.rin.ru/index_e.htmlhttp://www.mccme.ru/putevod/main_en.htmlhttp://www.rusadventures.ru/eng/default_e.aspxhttp://russia-travel.ws:8080/regions/http://www.suvenirograd.ru/?lang=2http://www.regadm.tambov.ru - Official site of the Administration of Tambov Regionhttp://www.tambov.gov.ru/

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